Abstract: On a distributor head for distributing gas samples removed from bottles requiring inspection to the connections for two mass spectrometers, the feed passageways form alternative paths. These different paths are contained in a replaceable part or a switchable valve arrangement. This allows easy changeover from operation with two mass spectrometers to operation with one mass spectrometer, so facilitating servicing of the mass spectrometers.

Abstract: On a bottle testing apparatus which has a plurality of sampling tubes which can be lowered into the bottles, the said tubes are individually detachable for cleaning. Hence they can be quickly and easily replaced with clean tubes. In addition, an adaptor is provided by means of which a cleaning fluid can be passed through the pipes of the apparatus.

Abstract: To detect contamination in used PET returnable bottles, they are fed to a first testing station which takes a gas sample from each bottle. This first testing station tests for the presence of heavy contamination. Heavily contaminated bottles are identified as dirty. The bottles are then fed to a second testing station which takes gas samples from the clean bottles and tests them for contamination with a lower detection threshold. Bottles detected here as contaminated are removed, as are the bottles which fail the first test. The two-stage process allows testing with greater sensitivity while maintaining a high bottle throughput.

Abstract: To detect contamination in used PET returnable bottles, they are fed to a first testing station which takes a gas sample from each bottle. This first testing station tests for the presence of heavy contamination. Heavily contaminated bottles are identified as dirty. The bottles are then fed to a second testing station which takes gas samples from the clean bottles and tests them for contamination with a lower detection threshold. Bottles detected here as contaminated are removed, as are the bottles which fail the first test. The two-stage process allows testing with greater sensitivity while maintaining a high bottle throughput.

Abstract: For testing bottles in particular by mass spectrometric analysis, gas samples are removed simultaneously from several bottles by means of probes. The gas samples are fed in succession and in a predetermined sequence to a mass spectrometer by a distributor unit. In this way, a single mass spectrometer is sufficient for testing a number of bottles thus substantially reducing costs in terms of money, maintenance and calibration time.